"My body is a temple, not to be defiled by the sacreligious act of consuming alcohol."

It is exactly one year since I uttered these words. Yes, it was my 21st birthday then, and I did not celebrate it in the fashion that most of my associates do. However, since that time, my attitude toward alcoholic beverages has changed slightly (particularly after my first experience with MadDog 20/20).

What can be said about the past year? Indeed many events have transpired since the 21st anniversary of my birth. Both of my siblings started college. I got promoted to my current position here at the Observer. I made the Mighty Fruity Muscle Pants a fashion statement on campus. I took my first classes in design. I realized my destiny as an SDH student manager. President Clinton got busted over his affair with Monica Lewinsky. There was a terrible shootout at Columbine H.S. in Middleton, Colo. "Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace" opened in theaters nationwide. My mother found a friend on the Internet, met him in real life, dated him for a few months, got engaged, and finally married him just last month. I went to my first rave. I met some new friends from Australia. I even got a haircut or two over the past year.

It would also be correct to say that there are many things I have learned over this past year as well. I learned that being 21 usually just means that you get to make the beer runs. I learned that my mom is better at getting a date than I am. I now know why typography is so important. I was able to pick up on HTML over the summer. I discovered how rewarding service to the community really is. I finally realized that I have lost one of my best friends, possibly for good. Some people don't really like pierced tongues. Being evil is fun.

I finally found out the name of that really cute girl over there. I learned that new kung fu form. I also learned that my kung fu still really sucks. I finally got all the words to the theme song of Shaft. I learned that being a third level elemental cleric in the AD&D DarkSun campaign really isn't that cool because elemental clerics don't have major access to the healing sphere. I also learned that while a Lancer with both Jump Level 8 and Jump Height 8 abilities are pretty good in Final Fantasy Tactics, a strong Monk with the Two Swords support ability can cause more damage in a single round. I learned that family is still one of the most important things in my life. I also learned that drinking and haircuts don't mix.

Of course, there are still many more things for me to learn beyond my short 22 years of existence. I still need to figure out how to get a date for a dance. I can't really understand why girls almost always go to the bathrooms in groups. I'll probably never understand how a guys' bathroom gets so filthy in so little time. I still need to know all that art history stuff for class. I don't know how people could go out in public and wear a tie and khaki pants and a blue blazer but still scoff at the pimpin' style of the Mighty Fruity Muscle Pants. I still want to learn the intricate steps of BaGua. I still have to learn a way to pay off my outstanding loans after I graduate. I still want to learn a foreign language. And I should probably still try to learn that my body is a temple, not to be defiled by the sacreligious act of consuming alcohol. I could also try learning the secret meaning to life.

• My Body is a Temple